title: Exploration of risk taking behaviors and perceived susceptibility of colorectal cancer among Malaysian adults: a community based cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Perceived susceptibility to an illness has been shown to affect Health-risk behavior. The objective of the present study was to determine the risk taking behaviors and the demographic predictors of perceived susceptibility to colorectal cancer in a population-based sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out among 305 Malaysian adults in six major districts, selected from urban, semi-urban, and rural settings in one state in Malaysia. A self-administered questionnaire was used in this study. It was comprised of socio-demographics, risk-taking behaviors, and validated domains of the Health Belief Model (HBM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (± SD) age of the respondents was 34.5 (± 9.6) and the majority (59.0%) of them were 30 years or older. Almost 20.7% of the respondents felt they were susceptible to colorectal cancer. Self-reported perceived susceptibility mirrored unsatisfactory screening behaviors owing to the lack of doctors' recommendation, ignorance of screening modalities, procrastination, and the perception that screening was unnecessary. Factors significantly associated with perceived susceptibility to colorectal cancer were gender (OR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.0-3.3), age (OR = 2. 2, 95% CI 1.2-4.0), ethnicity (OR = 0. 3, 95% CI 0.2-0.6), family history of colorectal cancer (OR = 3. 2, 95% CI 1.4-7.4) and alcohol intake (OR = 3.9, 95% CI 2.1-7.5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study revealed that screening behavior among respondents was unsatisfactory. Hence, awareness of the importance of screening to prevent colorectal cancers is imperative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, International Medical University (IMU), No, 126, Jln Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. samidobaie@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sami A R
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Al-Dubai
authors.forename: Kurubaran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ganasegeran
authors.forename: Aied M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alabsi
authors.forename: Shamsul A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Farid M M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Razali
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Arokiasamy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003153:Community Health Services; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population